JERRY BLAND, A RETIRED engineer from Virginia Beach, Virginia, recalls the first time he saw the neighbor’s sparkling blue and white F-100 pickup. He was just a 10-year-old Kentucky farm kid back in 1956, but the truck clearly made a lasting impression. Over the years, he’s had his name on the title of lots of cool custom vehicles, but that iconic truck was always an elusive dream.
Just a short 58 years later in 2014, Jerry decided to act on the dream, selling his ’60 Corvette to fund the new acquisition—a ’56 Ford located not far from his home, already equipped with an FE motor. His plan was to have the engine and transmission checked by professionals for safety and reliability, and then enjoy the process of personalizing the truck…